A “prolific” thief has been jailed for more than two years for stabbing a former soldier with a screwdriver after being confronted while breaking into the veteran’s van.

Michael Skeldon was locked up after pleading guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court to malicious wounding and theft from a motor vehicle.

Skeldon was reaching through the broken window of the ex-Staffordshire Regiment soldier’s van − parked in the Asda car park near Wolverhampton’s Molineux Stadium – on September 25 when the veteran spotted him.

The 46-year-old challenged Skeldon, who had the former squaddie’s phone in his hand.

Skeldon tried to run away but the veteran chased and caught up with him, pulling him to the ground in the struggle.

Skeldon then pulled a screwdriver on the ex-soldier and stabbed him in the shoulder.

Despite his injury, the veteran managed to restrain Skeldon for a second time and marched him into the supermarket after being told police officers were inside.

Skeldon, aged 36 and of no fixed address, was arrested but denied assaulting the squaddie in the crowded car park and breaking into the van to steal the phone.

Sgt Matthew Cooper, of West Midlands Police, said: “More shocking still were Skeldon ’s outrageous lies throughout his interview that he was in fact the victim and the ex-soldier had assaulted him − despite numerous witness statements to the contrary.

“Skeldon is a prolific offender and eventually changed his plea.

“We are satisfied with the two year and three month sentence handed to him.

“The victim, with 30 years’ service in the army, had recently left to become a carpenter.

“Sadly, he has been unable to work since the attack, which has left him with limited use of his left shoulder.

“While nothing can make up for the impact this crime has had on the former squaddie, we hope the fact Skeldon has been taken off the streets of Wolverhampton and is unable to cause further harm in our community for the foreseeable future, provides at least some consolation.”